572 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIO.N'AL MUSEIU'M vol.89 



alertly, spreading the tail at times, suggesting a redstart though 

 somewhat less active. Another was observed the following day in a 

 heavily forested area at about 8,700 feet below Calabozo near Sierra 

 Santa Elena. This bird frequented a clearing about a little house 

 where it rested on a fence, on logs, and on other open perches. 



IDIOTES RUFIFRONS RUFIFRONS (Swainson) 



Setophaga ruflfrons Swainson, Animals in menageries, 1838, p. 294 (Real 

 Arriba, Veracruz). 



An immature male was taken at Panajachel. An insistent song of 

 two or three quickly repeated notes that I heard regularly there I 

 finally identified as from these birds. They were found in tangles of 

 vines, thickets, and growths of weeds, where they hid instantly at 

 any alarm. 



It is probable that specimens from Guatemala are to be referred to 

 an undescribed race, but much more material is necessary for proper 

 understanding of the southern group in this species. 



BASILEUTERUS BELLI SCITULUS Nelson 



BasUeuterus belli scitidus Nexson, Auk, 1900, p. 268 (Todos Santos, Huehuete- 

 nango, Guatemala). 



Above Dueiias, at 6,500 feet elevation on Volcan de Acatenango, on 

 November 1 I found two or three of these birds in dense herbaceous 

 growth near the ground and collected one. They were in dense shadow 

 and worked about with low, complaining notes. At Chichivac, at 

 8,600 feet elevation above Tecpam, on November 26 I secured a pair 

 as they fed actively near the ground in the shelter of broad-leaved 

 shrubs. 



The races of this species are somewhat difficult as they are based on 

 differences in depth of color, while at the same time there is definite 

 color range individually, . specimens taken in fall and winter being 

 darker and those in summer lighter. When this seasonal variation 

 is understood, most of the difficulties of separating the forms disap- 

 pear. There seems to be no difference in size between any of the races 

 here recognized. A brfef review follows : 



BasUeuterus belli helll (Giraud) : 



Muscicapa belli Giraed, Description of sixteen new species of North American 

 birds, 1841, pi. 4, fig. 2, and text (Mount Orizaba, Veracruz^) . 



Chestnut-brown of head darker, particularly on auricular region 

 and about eye, green of dorsal surface, and yellow of lower parts 

 clearer. 



'Fixed by Todd, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 74, art. 7, 1929, p. 84. 



